Cracked Dash Poll Thread

[Standard]

I would never buy one of those coverlay things, looks like shit imo.

After 6 years of having a stock, uncracked dash in my s13, it finally developed a crack above the cluster. This was about 2 years ago now and it hasn't gotten worse, but get this, it cracked over winter sitting in my garage with no sunlight exposure.

[DreamN]

If the coverlay piece was under $100 I could see it being worth it. Though considering having a dash wrapped wouldn't be that much more it seems like a waste. Besides I too am not a fan of how it looks.

[_kouki_monster_]

I dont think the coverlay look too bad but definitely not worth $150.

[KiLLeR2001]

My two-tone has an uncracked original dash and that fucker was manufactured in 1988.

My S13.5 had an uncracked dash until I used that armor all protectant on it. Dried up the vinyl and cracks showed up shortly after. Meguiar's products have yielded much better results for me.

[az_240]

^I've heard of armor all doing that to other people's cars.... seems like a good idea to avoid that stuff.

I stand by Aerospace 303. Been using it for years.

[iStayBroke]

Uncracked dash in my S13. I don't do anything but wipe off dust with a towel every now and then.

[cbh148]

cracked in my hatch (alabama car all its life), uncracked in my vert (los angeles car all its life until 2011).

my first car was an '88 coupe from tennessee (not sure where it spent the majority of its life, but it could've been in tennessee) and had a crackless dash, but my asshole friend popped his boot heel on the passenger side of the dash, and shortly thereafter i went to the car one morning and it had cracked from the windshield all the way down almost to the glove box. shitsucked.

[O$mo]

I cant say my dash is immaculate, but it is 99.999999999999999999999% prefect, besides these two chips that is smaller than a mm...



*sigh*

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by az_240

^I've heard of armor all doing that to other people's cars.... seems like a good idea to avoid that stuff.

I stand by Aerospace 303. Been using it for years.

Does that stuff leave much gloss? I'm in the market for a new interior cleaner and I'm looking for something that leaves a matte look.

[Silverbullet]

to keep a crack from growing, you can drill a small hole at the end of the segment. This will relieve any stress. You can use the hole to mount a gauge or something. Obviously not everyone can do this, and it depends where the crack is.

[kouki-gymkhana]

Originally Posted by ixfxi

Those types of covers have been around for ages. I remember seeing stuff like that on the older Datsun Z cars and what not. I'm not a big fan of it. Its just a hard-shell cover that does exactly that, cover the ratty cracked dash.

I'de like to hear more about people or shops that specialize in refurbishing the OEM dash, not cheap replacements and patch-fixes... or worse, flock. I think thats just cheap shit. The way I see it, if I'm going to pull a dash out - I want it done right.

There is a company in California named Just Dashes that will take your cracked POS dash, strip the old vinyl off, repair/replace the foam, and then vacuum thermoform new vinyl over it. Of course, you will have to exchange $$$$$$$$ for this kind of work but you said you wanted it done properly.

I'm too lazy to link it but they have YouTube videos and all. Just google it.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by kouki-gymkhana

There is a company in California named Just Dashes that will take your cracked POS dash, strip the old vinyl off, repair/replace the foam, and then vacuum thermoform new vinyl over it. Of course, you will have to exchange $$$$$$$$ for this kind of work but you said you wanted it done properly.

I'm too lazy to link it but they have YouTube videos and all. Just google it.

At that rate, you might as well just buy a new one from the dealership.

[kouki-gymkhana]

I don't think you can still buy a new dash from the dealer. Even if they list it in the parts catalog, good luck ACTUALLY finding one.

[ixfxi]

Originally Posted by kouki-gymkhana

There is a company in California named Just Dashes that will take your cracked POS dash, strip the old vinyl off, repair/replace the foam, and then vacuum thermoform new vinyl over it. Of course, you will have to exchange $$$$$$$$ for this kind of work but you said you wanted it done properly.

I'm too lazy to link it but they have YouTube videos and all. Just google it.

NOW we're talking. its not about money, its about the job and quality of work.

thanks for the link, i owe you one.

[rv_zenki]

I have a 96 s14. My dad bought it in 96 and it has a perfect dash. My dad daily drove it except for the winter and now I do the same. I have no protection for it or anything

[rv_zenki]

And I don't garage it

[Om1kron]

the real question is what the fuck are honda dashboards made out of and why didn't nissan take any notes, really burns my ass when some fucking kid with a civic from the 80;s has a nicer dashboard than me.

[az_240]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Does that stuff leave much gloss? I'm in the market for a new interior cleaner and I'm looking for something that leaves a matte look.

I use it on all panels and makes it look like new... helps hide small scratches and gives it a slightly deeper matte look. No gloss.

[slowvia]

Luckily, I've never had a cracked dash in any of my S13s. The dash in my coupe is pristine, and I intend on keeping it that way by keeping it in the garage, and keeping up on cleaning it.

I did have a tiny crack that was starting in my hatch. I generally clean out my interior and wash my car at least every other week, so I know that the crack was new when I found it. I just cleaned the dash, and took a very small amount of clear super glue (I used a toothpick to put it on, that's how little I used) and after it dried I haven't seen it grow. That was a little over a year ago, and that car never sits in the garage, and I don't use a sun shade (although I really should get one).

The biggest thing to remember is to check all your interior cleaners and make sure that they don't have any petroleum products in them. Those are the problem, they may make your dash all shiny, but they also dry it out and make it prone to cracking. You can check by looking at the back of the product's container, it will usually say if it has petroleum products in it. I would highly advise people to go watch these videos before detailing your own car: http://www.ammonyc.com/videos/

[slowvia]

Originally Posted by az_240

^I've heard of armor all doing that to other people's cars.... seems like a good idea to avoid that stuff.

I stand by Aerospace 303. Been using it for years.

It's not just Armorall though. You need to actually check each specific cleaner, because even some of Armorall's products are ok to use. They have some "quick wipes" for interior that don't have silicone that I'll use sometimes. But even with those wipes made by Armorall, some will have silicone, some won't. You just need to look into each one to find a good cleaner. Even some Mother's and Meguire's stuff have silicone in them.

[InsTanCeZ]

If my dash cracked, I would just do a suede or alcantara upholstered dash. They look amazing and they will have no windshield glare. It also gives the s-chassis a more modern look in my opinion. Otherwise, dashmats, or just fixing the oem dash are pretty good options.

[silviasandbeer]

no petroleum for interior cleaners!
check ^
thanks for that

[Corbic]

I voted cracked even though I am not. I've replaced the dash 3 times now... they don't last long.

I have a carpet cover that I throw on it every time I park.

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by InsTanCeZ

If my dash cracked, I would just do a suede or alcantara upholstered dash. They look amazing and they will have no windshield glare. It also gives the s-chassis a more modern look in my opinion. Otherwise, dashmats, or just fixing the oem dash are pretty good options.

My understanding is the S13 is impossible to cover without some stitch work. Also, real alcantara is very expensive. That Walmart suede people use sunfades and rots out in just a short amount of time. Having a pro do that dash will set you back a min $500.

I would go with a vinyl and a tailored look.





http://www.designpaulchampagne.com/9...redCovers.html

[speedgod^s13]

Living in Hawaii, I'm glad that both of my 13's have crack free dashes. I've always used windshield shades, and I'm also a believer in the 303 aerospace protectant. To me it does the job, of keeping the area applied, from going dry. It also doesn't add that artificial gloss, like Armor All. I'd still really like to get a dash flocked though. It looks wicked, and prevents glare, what's not to like?

[az_240]

flocked dash is hard to clean the dirt out of....

[speedgod^s13]

Originally Posted by az_240

flocked dash is hard to clean the dirt out of....

Never thought about that. I still like the way it looks though.

[Bushido]

[Misfit02actual]

This may help

http://www.andysautosport.com/nissan...kins/coverlay/

[Sumslapper]

Mine was uncracked until I dropped part of my roll cage on it and cracked it like a dumbass. It was already brittle though, I can literally push my fingernail into the the top of my dash.